KB collects 4 points in Mzuzu: Malawi TNM Super League
TNM Super League defending champions, Kamuzu Barracks, return to their base at the Malawi Defence Force Headquarters in Lilongwe with 4 points from two games played away in Mzuzu.
After punishing Chitipa United 2-1 on Saturday, they shared points with Mzuni Football Club on Sunday at Mzuzu stadium in a game that ended 1-1.
The hunger for an early goal was evident in the students who call themselves “The Green Intellectuals” as they settled quickly into the game and began exchanging brilliant passes from one player to another with an aim of unlocking the soldiers’ defence.
Midfield maestro Lazarus Deco Nyemera received the ball in the middle of the park from one of his defenders. Nyemera saw dread rocked Zeliat Nkhoma making a forward run and chipped the ball over KB defence and Nkhoma skillfully tapped the ball over goalkeeper Lehman Nthala in the 14 minute for the students to lead 1 nil.
After absorbing pressure for a considerable period of time, the defending champions tightened things at the back through Sam Chibvunde and Mustapher Salimu while experienced midfield workhorse Davie Banda was busy orchestrating attacking moves from the middle.
Four minutes before recess, a well calculated free kick found charging striker Chimwemwe Chisambi who was too quick in the air to head the ball past goalkeeper Chimwemwe Kumkwawa for Mzuni FC. 1-1; read the scoreboard.
The students nearly went back onto the driving seat seconds before the half time whistle when Zeliat Nkhoma beat a defender on the right but his thunderbolt that lifted spectators off their seats, missed the target with a whisker.
In the second half, the battle for a winning goal continued.
Deco Nyemera’s powerful free kick in the 75th minute was fumbled by goalkeeper Lehman Nthala and the ball hit the cross bar before Nthala recovered it.
The soldiers retaliated in the 86th minute with a fierce attack when Diouf Simaone’s bullet was parried away by Chimwemwe Kumkwawa.
Two minutes to full time, the Green Intellectuals would carry the day but Zeliat Nkhoma’s shot was first blocked by the goalkeeper before Vincent Mphepo cleared the ball off the goal line.
The game ended one all.
Speaking after the match, assistant coach for KB, Ted Kalinda said his charges played according to instructions but the referee let his side down.
“The referee has let us down in this game. I think he has achieved what he wanted because he was so biased throughout the game,” charged Kalinda.
Taking his turn, Milleous Pofera Jegwe said his side was playing an experienced and physical side but his boys tried their best hence the draw.
“Three times in succession we have played against MDF teams, Mafco, Red Lions and today KB; all of which are very physical. The boys did their part and I think a draw is a fair result,” explained Jegwe.
This result leaves the defending champions with 4 points from three games and on position 10 while the students lie third on the log with 9 points from five games, 2 points behind current leaders Red Lions.
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